Association between gut microbiota and ultra-processed foods consumption among the patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

Takahiro Ichikawa; Yoshitaka Hashimoto; Yusuke Igarashi; Sayaka Kawai; Ayumi Kaji; Ryosuke Sakai; Takafumi Osaka; Ryo Inoue; Saori Kashiwagi; Katsura Mizushima; Kazuhiko Uchiyama; Tomohisa Takagi; Yuji Naito; Masahide Hamaguchi; Michiaki Fukui

doi:10.1186/s12986-024-00884-y

Association between gut microbiota and ultra-processed foods consumption among the patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

Nutr Metab (Lond). 2024 Dec 20;21(1):110. doi: 10.1186/s12986-024-00884-y.

Authors

Takahiro Ichikawa¹, Yoshitaka Hashimoto^{1

2}, Yusuke Igarashi¹, Sayaka Kawai¹, Ayumi Kaji¹, Ryosuke Sakai¹, Takafumi Osaka^{1

3}, Ryo Inoue^{4

5}, Saori Kashiwagi^{6

7}, Katsura Mizushima⁶, Kazuhiko Uchiyama⁶, Tomohisa Takagi^{6

8}, Yuji Naito⁹, Masahide Hamaguchi¹⁰, Michiaki Fukui¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-Cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.
² Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Matsushita Memorial Hospital, 5-55 Sotojima-Cho, Moriguchi, 570-8540, Japan.
³ Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Ayabe Municipal Hospital, Ayabe, 623-0011, Japan.
⁴ Laboratory of Animal Science, Kyoto Prefectural University, Kyoto, 606-8522, Japan.
⁵ Laboratory of Animal Science, Setsunan University, Hirakata, 573-0101, Japan.
⁶ Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-Cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.
⁷ Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
⁸ Department for Medical Innovation and Translational Medical Science, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-Cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan.
⁹ Department of Human Immunology and Nutrition Science, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto, Japan.
¹⁰ Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, 465 Kajii-Cho, Kawaramachi-Hirokoji, Kamigyo-Ku, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan. [email protected].

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to explore the relationship between ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption and gut microbiota in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 362 participants with T2D. UPFs consumption was assessed using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire, quantified as the density of UPFs intake (g/1000 kcal). Gut microbial composition was evaluated via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We investigated the association between gut microbiota, previously identified as relevant to T2D, and the density of UPFs intake using Spearman rank correlation coefficients. Multiple regression analysis, adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, exercise, and medication use, was conducted to further investigate these associations.

Results: The mean age of participants was 68 (63-74) years. The density of UPFs intake showed significant associations with Bifidobacterium (r = 0.11, p = 0.031), Lactobacillus (r = 0.11, p = 0.046), Ruminococcus (r = -0.12, p = 0.019), Roseburia (r = 0.11, p = 0.045). After adjusting for covariates in multiple regression analysis, Ruminococcus and Roseburia showed modest negative (β = -0.11, p = 0.038) and positive (β = 0.12, p = 0.033) correlations, with the density of UPFs intake among participants with T2D, respectively.

Conclusions: The density of UPFs intake was modestly inversely associated with Ruminococcus among patients with T2D and modestly positively associated with Roseburia.

Keywords: Gut microbiota; Type 2 diabetes; Ultra-processed food consumption.